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The Farm’s Little People 


Sequel to'"'' On Grandfather's Farm" 


BY 

ANNIE HOWELLS FRfcHETTE 



PHILADELPHIA 

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY 
1420 Chestnut Street 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED 



Copyright 1897 by the 

American Baptist Publication Society 


jfrom tbc Society's own preso 


JLo tbe fulemors 

Of my dear father and sister Victoria 

anb 

To my cherished sister Aurelia 
The one left of the loving three who made 
MS so happy on Grandfather' s Farm" 



- CONTENTS 

THE Ram-cat’s Kittens 7 

HOLLYHOCK LADIES 39 

ARE THERE FAIRIES? 61 

THE PARTY 85 






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THE RAM-CAT’S KITTENS 





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THE FARM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 


THE RAM-CAT’S KITTENS 



HAT do you s' pose that noise 
upstairs is, Sister?" and 
Brother's eyes opened wide 
and his yellow hair did its best 
to stand on end. 

“ It sounds like something scratch- 
ing," answered Sister, with her head 
turned to listen toward the loft. 

** Do you think it is a panther ? " in an 
awful whisper. 

No, I don't. In the first place there 
are no panthers on grandfather's farm, 
and in the second place, if it was a pan- 
ther it would have eaten Randolph and 
Beverly last night, and I've seen them 
going to the field this morning, so they 

9 


lo THE EARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

are not eaten. And besides, Brother, 
you are too big a boy to be afraid of a 
little noise like that.** 

“ I didn*t say I was afraid.** 

“ But you looked afraid. I do wish. 
Brother,** and here Sister stood upright as 
if to lecture in the oatbin where she and 
Brother were playing mill, ‘‘that you 
would get over that habit you have of 
trying to get out of things. It is just as 
bad to look scared as to be scared, and 
you can’t fool me. You know mamma 
says you have a ‘ speaking countenance,* 
and that it always tells just what you are 
thinking about.** 

“Can you tell by looking at my 
cheeks ? * * 

“Yes, even by looking at your nose.** 
“ That’s funny,” and Brother laughed, 
glad to talk about something else. 

“So if you want to prove to me that 
you are not afraid, you ought to go up- 
stairs and see what is scratching.” 

“ Tm not afraid,” and Brother scram- 


THE RAM- CAT'S KITTENS 


bled out of the bin, and started for the 
steep little stair which led to the loft. 

These two little people of six and seven 
were spending a most happy summer on 
their grandfather's farm, a fine old place 
in Virginia. Just now they were playing 
in one of the group of log houses which 
had been * ‘ the quarters ' ' in slavery 
times, the lower floor of which was some- 
times used to store extra grain, while the 
upper part of the cabin was used as a 
bedroom for the two colored boys. A 
great bin was found to be a most de- 
sirable place in which to play, and many 
a salt-bag of oats was loaded into the 
express wagon and drawn to a make-be- 
lieve mill in another corner, sister becom- 
ing at once both horse and driver, and 
Brother placing himself at the mill, where 
he took the grist with a loud and gruff 
voice — as became a dusty miller who was 
always at work among rumbling wheels 
and stones. 

At the foot of the stairs Brother paused. 


12 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

** Tm not at all afraid, you know, Sis- 
ter, but even when Tm upstairs maybe I 
can't find out. You'd better come with 
me. You know I can't tell very well. I 
might think it was Bingo, or an old hen 
making a nest on the boys' bed. I might 
— why. Sister, it's the ram-cat! " And 
there sure enough was * ‘ the ram-cat ' ' 
(so called because of gray marks on 
each side of her head, which the chil- 
dren declared looked like the horns of a 
ram) peering over the side of the stair. 

“ Oh, Brother, wait for me. I'm sure 
the ram-cat has a nest in the loft. How 
perfectly lovely! " and Sister went over 
the side of the bin in double-quick time. 

Up the stairs they flew, forgetful of 
panthers or danger of any kind. The 
ram-cat met them and rubbed against 
them in a friendly way. 

‘ ‘ Rammy, dear, have you a nest ? ' ' 
and Sister stooped to stroke her, while 
Brother began peering about. “Have 
you kittens, Rammy ? " 


THE RAM-CAT'S KITTENS 


13 


“ Rammy only twisted herself 
around Sister's thin legs and pushed 
against her bare feet with velvety paws. 
She was not a house cat like Pooley, still 
she was on very good and gentle terms 
with the children, who often brought her 
tempting little dinners. She even had a 
frolic with them at times, a thing which 
stately Pooley never did, for Pooley never 
even stayed with any one but grandfather. 
Now it had long been one of their fond- 
est hopes that some day the ram-cat 
would, as they termed it, “hatch kit- 
tens," for there were many plays in which 
kittens could take part, and a “flock" 
of them would be a far lovelier sight than 
any flock of downy chickens. Little 
chickens were beautiful enough, but even 
Brother feared the claws of the mother 
hen too much ever to pick up a chick, 
and as for Sister, she would go far out 
of her path any day, rather than meet 
Mistress Speck and her brood. So little 
chickens did not count for much. 


14 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

Once more a little scraping sound was 
heard, and this time there was with it a 
faint but real mewing, which seemed to 
come from an old barrel which stood half 
hidden under the eaves. The children 
made a rush toward it and the ram-cat 
followed them uneasily. Brother tilted 
himself over the barrel and looked down 
into it. He tilted himself so far that 
Sister had to grasp him around the 
chubby calves to keep him from tumbling 
in altogether. She could hear him breath- 
ing hard, but it was a moment of such 
intensity, that neither could speak. Then 
Brother wriggled himself out until his 
toes touched the floor ; then his head ap- 
peared ; then out came his arms — and in 
each hand he grasped a soft, roly-poly 
kitten. 

“Take them. Sister, and Til get the 
rest; the barrel's 'most full of them." 

Sister took them into the doubled-up 
skirt of her dress in perfect silence, and 
Brother again tilted himself into the bar- 


THE RAM- CAT'S KITTENS 


15 


rel, Sister solemnly holding him by one 
leg with her free hand; coming out he 
silently put two more kittens into her 
skirt and once more half of him was lost 
to view. This time only one kitten was 
fished up. 

** I thought there were more/' he said, 
in deep disappointment. 

“You said the barrel was 'most full, 
Brother," mournfully. 

“Well, Sister, truly and truly it did 
seem 'most full. They must have kept 
crawling up the sides and tumbling back, ' ' 
and poor little Brother was mortified that 
his treasury should so soon become 
empty. 

“ Well, never mind, we can get along 
with five," and then Sister's joy began to 
overflow. “Thank you, thank you, for 
getting them out of the barrel; I never 
could have got them out ! ' ' 

“ I'm so glad I happen to be a boy, 
'cause boys can get kittens out of barrels 
better than girls can, 'cause they are not 


1 6 THE FARM ’ ^ LITTLE PE OPLE 

afraid of tearing their dresses, that's the 
only reason. Are they beauties, Sis- 
ter ? " beaming at her. 

*• ‘ Perfect little loves ! They are squirm- 
ing 'round like little angels. Peep in at 
them," and she opened a fold of her 
skirt. “ We'll own them together, won't 
we ? Let's go down to the bin and put 
them on the floor, so we can see them all 
at once. It will be better than playing 
mill." 

** And we can train them, and have a 
circus." 

“Yes, and now that the ram-cat has 
hatched kittens, I just believe that old 
Charley will hatch a Shetland pony." 

“I believe he'll hatch two," said 
Brother, who always liked to have things 
complete. “ Let me carry some of 
them." 

“Yes, take one in each hand, but do be 
careful not to drop them." 

Down they went with their precious 
load, the ram-cat coming as a jealous 


THE RAM-CAT^S KITTENS 


17 


rear guard, and into the bin they labori- 
ously climbed. Once safely within, Sis- 
ter's skirt was emptied and a soft wad of 
kittenhood put upon the floor. To the 
excited children it seemed to combine all 
the colors of the rainbow, and long and 
lovingly was it looked over. By turns 
they decided that the beauty of the family 
was the all-white one — ^the gray one — 
and each of the cunning white ones with 
gray spots. Brother wanted to begin 
their training at once, but their legs were 
so weak and their bodies so pudgy, that 
both Sister and the mother protested in 
their different ways, and the kittens were 
put to sleep in a corner of the bin. 

But trained cats they were to be, sooner 
or later, and the little busybodies after 
kissing the soft heap, betook themselves 
to the labor of making the place clean 
and tidy, for future performances. Old 
brooms were brought in, and such a cloud 
of dust was raised that they seemed to 
recede from each other into dim distance. 


B 





After sweeping, seats were set for the 
audience which was to consist of grand- 

father, the aunts, and mamma. 

Joey Vale was to be asked to assist 
in the ring ; and if Bingo and the ram- 
cat could be coaxed to be friendly enough, 
he too would add to the attractions of the 
arena. 

When all was done they once more 
climbed back into the bin to feast their 
eyes upon the kittens and to rest them- 
selves. 

‘ * * Shall we tell about them when we go 
to dinner, or shall we keep them for a 
surprise ? ' ' 

* ‘ To-morrow is Aunt Lea- 
shie’s birthday; we might 
make her a present of 
them,'' said Sister. 

* ‘ But you know Aunt Leashie does not 
like cats. She even calls Pooley a 
beast." 

“ Well, she is a beast." 

“But I don't think she ought to be 




THE EAM-CAT’S KITTENS 


19 


called one — and right before grandfather 
too,’* protested Brother. 

“Well then, perhaps Aunt Leashie 
would not like them, so we’ll keep them 
for a surprise. And when we have 
trained them to jump over sticks and ride 
on Bingo’s back, and stand on their hind 
legs and mew * Home Sweet Home,’ like 
the trained dogs ’ ’ 

“ Only the dogs bark it.” 

“Oh, well, that’s because they can’t 
mew — and when they can jump through 
hoops and wear little dresses and coats 
like monkeys, we’ll give a circus, and 
won’t everybody be ’stonished ? How 
proud the ram-cat will be of her chil- 
dren. Oh, dear, I hear Bingo coming! 
Now, they will fight and step on the kit- 
tens and kill them! Do run. Brother, 
and shut him into the barn. It is the 
only chance to save their lives, the dear 
wee things. Go away, you wicked 
dog ! ’ ’ Bingo at this moment came 
rushing into the cabin and hearing the 


20 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

children talking in the bin, peered over at 
them with a series of joyful little yelps, 
and made as if to jump over to them. 

‘‘Bingo,** said Brother sternly, “go 
to the house this minute.** 

“ Oh, dear, dear ! I can almost hear 
their poor little bones being crunched. 
Oh, look at Rammy*s tail! ** and Sister 
spread her skirts over the tempting mor- 
sels, and the mother cat glared with fiery 
eyes at the good-natured pup. “ Oh, 
Brother, if you don*t get the awful mon- 
ster away, we’ll all be killed — they’ll tear 
us to pieces between them.” 

Valiant Brother scrambled out, took 
the joyous Bingo by the nape of the 
neck, and by coaxing and cuffing at last 
did get him outside, and Sister hurried 
after them, closing the door carefully. 

“I’ve left the sweet darlings asleep in 
the bin with their kind mother to protect 
them. What a narrow escape I Bingo, 
if you had pounced upon them. I’d — 
I’d ** 


THE RAM-CAT^ S KITTENS 


21 


Bingo stood before her asking with his 
eyes what she would have done, but as 
she seemed unable to think and remained 
silent, he presently gave a gruff bark and 
pretended to attack her, by flattening him- 
himself upon the ground, then suddenly 
springing up and circling around her. 
This was always a challenge for a grand 
romp and the children could not resist him. 

“We may as well play with him 
awhile,'' said Sister, “and get his mind 
off the kittens." 

Not only was Bingo's mind diverted, 
but they played themselves into complete 
forgetfulness as well. When they were 
called to dinner they found Aunt Sie 
planning a trip to a farm near by, and 
they were asked to go along. Invitations 
were seldom thrown away on them, and 
after dinner, each holding dear Aunt 
Sie's hand, they started off. 

It was only when they were well on 
their way that the helpless state of their 
treasure recurred to Sister. 


22 


7'HE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 


We must go back — we must go back 
this very minute! ** she cried, coming to 
a dead halt. 

‘ * Why must you go back ? * * asked 
Aunt Sie in surprise. 

“Oh, Aunt Sie, it was a secret, but 
now you'll never, never see them. Bingo 
will eat them all I " and Sister burst into 
tears. 

“ And he can gulp 'em right down — 
they are so soft," added Brother in a 
trembling voice. 

‘ ‘ Eat what ? Gulp what down ? ' ' 

“We may as well tell. Brother — the 
circus is all over — we won't even have a 
funeral if he eats them," said Sister. 

“ Well, you are puzzling children 1 " 

“ K-k-kittens, Aunt Sie." 

“ The — ^the — ram-cat has five kittens." 

“ Well, that is a calamity," exclaimed 
their aunt. “ Five more cats to feed! " 

“And Bingo knows about them " 

“And he 'most ate them before din- 


ner. 


THE RAM-CAT^S KITTENS 


23 


“ Well, he won't 'most eat them after 
dinner if the ram-cat is around." 

“Oh, won't she let him? Will she 
spag him ?" they both cried in a breath. 

“ Spag him! Well, all I have to say 
is, that if Bingo tries to eat the ram-cat's 
kittens, there won't be more than the 
tip of his tail left! " 

“Oh, goody! Will there be only 
about an inch of his tail left. Aunt Sie ? 
Show me on your finger," urged exact 
Brother. “ Aren't you glad. Sister ? " 
Their weeping was turned to laughter 
as they seized each other and broke into 
a “ joyful dance." 

The sun was just setting when they 
reached home, warm and tired, and a 
hasty search was made for the downy 
mass they had left in the oatbin. To 
their horror they found the bin empty; 
but as there was no sign of bloodshed, 
they dared hope there had been no battle 
between Bingo and the ram-cat. 


24 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

“Maybe, Sister,'' and Brother's face 
glowed with hope, “ maybe their mother 
thought they were to sleep upstairs. You 
know at home Tibbie always used to 
carry hers out to the shed in her mouth." 

Upstairs trotted the tired little legs and 
there, sure enough, in the barrel lay the 
ram-cat surrounded by her family. It 
was too dark to see distinctly, but 
Brother made sure they were all there by 
feeling and counting each sharp little tail. 
Once he shouted up from the depth of 
the barrel that there were six, but a re- 
count proved to him that he had gotten 
hold of the same tail twice. 

“ I wish. Brother, you'd be careful not 
to make such mistakes. All in a minute 
I thought how beautiful three pairs of 
kittens would look galloping around the 
ring; and it is so disappointing to have 
to get used to two pairs and a half 
again." 

“Well, I'm awful sorry. Sister; but 
you see I could not help it — they squirmed 



so. They probably thought I was a bad 
boy and meant to lift them by their tails. 
But you know I wouldn't do such a 
wicked thing, eh, Sister?" 

She was touched by his humility and 
kissed him. 

“ Oh, let's go down. Brother, I'm so 
tired; I'm glad there aren't six. I'm too 
tired to think of that many." 

‘ ‘ And it kind of rests you only to 
think of five, doesn't it. Sister ? " 

Yes, that's it." 

And with their arms around each other 
the little people went slowly toward the 
house through the warm dusk. 

They awoke fresh and bright. All the 
weariness of the previous day had been 
taken off to fairyland while they slept 
by “ Toosle," a certain fairy friend of 
theirs, who was supposed to watch over 
their sleep, to see if he could do any- 
thing for them. Sometimes the rogue 
played tricks on them, such as tangling 
or ‘‘toosling" their hair, turning their 


26 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 


sleeves inside out, or pulling off buttons 
which they were sure were all right when 
they had gone to bed ; but oftener he did 
them good turns such as healing briar 
scratches, or black and blue spots, or 
bumps. These with aches and pains 
once in a while he carried off to fairyland 
and stored away until he found bad boys 
and girls to palm them off on. 

But something awful had happened 
during the night. When Sister and 
Brother went to the cabin and looked 
into the barrel, only one kitten was to 
be found. The ram-cat too was mysti- 
fied. In vain they and she looked and 
called, both upstairs and down. The 
ram-cat tried to explain to them that 
when she had returned from an early 
trip to look for her own breakfast, and 
jumped into the barrel to give the kittens 
theirs, only one of all her lovely family 
was left. 

Wild guesses rushed one upon the 
other. What could have become of the 


THE RAM~CAT^S KITTENS 


27 


four little beauties ? Could Randolph 
and Beverly each have stolen two and 
taken them home to their little brothers 
and sisters ? Could Bingo have eaten 
them ? Could jealous Pooley have car- 
ried them off ? 

In despair they went to their grand- 
father with their sad tale and their sus- 
picions. He sympathized with them in 
their grief, and told them that it was not 
the first time he had known whole fami- 
lies of kittens to disappear and never be 
heard of again. But he did his best to 
clear away the cloud of suspicion which 
rested upon Bingo. In all his long years 
he had never known a dog to really eat 
cats. 

‘‘And,'* he said, stooping down to 
pat Bingo, “ see how innocent the poor 
dog looks, and how sad because you are 
so cross to him. Bingo, have you eaten 
any kittens this morning ? Open your 
mouth and let me see if there is any fur 
in it." 


28 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

Bingo not only opened his mouth, but 
showed a clean red tongue and gleaming 
white teeth in a joyous smile. 

“ There, you see what an honest fel- 
low he looks. Pat him and be friendly 
with him again, for I’m quite certain he 
knows nothing of this sad business. And 
anyhow, don’t you think it is rather a 
good thing that the poor ram-cat hasn’t 
five kittens to look after? ” 

“ But we would have taken care of 
them, grandfather; we meant to train 
them,” they broke in. 

* ‘ But think how many birds she would 
have been tempted to catch for them. 
Now you can manage with one and make 
a pet of it. And I don’t believe Bingo 
will meddle with it after the way Pooley 
cuffed him. So, cheer up.” 

“We are cheering up, grandfather, 
as fast as we can,” replied Sister in a 
very doleful tone. “But it is very hard 
to get cheerful on only one kitten.” 

“You may own the head. Sister, and 


THE RAM-CAT’S KITTENS 


29 


ril own the tail/' said Brother gloomily, 
“ and we'll both own the paws." 

“That will be a very fair division. 
Come, let us have a look at the little 
thing." 

It was indeed an honor to have grand- 
father go to look at their little kitten, and 
they told him on the way how they had 
meant to have a circus; how they had 
found the ram-cat's nest; and how at 
first Brother was just a little bit afraid 
that it was a panther, and so on, until 
they had talked themselves upstairs. 
Grandfather made them happy by declar- 
ing it to be the most beautiful kitten he 
had ever seen. He admired its snowy 
whiteness and its blue eyes which, he 
said, were very unusual. 

“ I am going down to the bottom-lands 
to see how the boys are coming on with 
their hoeing, so you had better put the 
kitten back with its mother and come 
with me." 

“ Oh, thank you, grandfather, for tak- 


30 ' THE FARM'S LITTLE PEOPLE 

ing US, and we can play at the brook 
while you look after the boys/' 

Away they went, their loss forgotten 
in thoughts of catching crawfish in the 
little brook which ran around the wood 
lot to finally tumble into the carp-pond. 
Catching crawfish was one of their great- 
est pleasures, and as they trotted along 
by their grandfather's side. Brother told 
how Sister lifted up the stones and he 
picked up the crawfish she uncovered. 

“And I'm very careful not to take 
them by the end what bites, you know, 
grandfather, for they just put their little 
arms around your finger and — whew ! ' ' 

‘ ‘ And what do you do with them after 
you catch them ? ' ' 

“ Oh, we have a dam that we put them 
into, and next summer when we come to 
visit you, they will have grown to be big 
lobsters." 

By this time they had reached the 
brook — a pretty spot under overhanging 
branches, among whose leaves the birds 


THE EAM-CAT’S KITTENS 


31 


and summer breeze made pleasant music. 
And here grandfather left them to pur- 
sue lobster-raising while he went forward 
to oversee a harvest almost as doubtful. 
He could still hear them splashing about 
in the water and talking steadily to each 
other. 

Presently there was a pause followed 
by loud calls. 

“Oh, grandfather, grandfather ! Come, 
please, as fast as you can. We've found 
them ! They were in the dam ! ' ' 

He hastened back and saw Sister and 
Brother standing knee-deep in water, and 
in each raised hand a little drowned kitten. 

“ They're dead — perfectly dead," and 
Sister's ready tears splashed into the 
brook. 

“ St-stone dead, grandfather," and 
Brother swallowed hard to keep back his. 

‘ ‘ Where in the world did you find 
them ? ' ' 

“Right here. I was looking for our 
lobsters, and I felt something soft under 


32 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

my foot, and I picked it up and it was 
one of our kittens, and I felt around for 
more, and then I found them all.’* 

“It is a shame ! ’ ’ said grandfather, 
and he turned and walked quickly back 
to where the boys were at work, and they 
heard him speaking sharply to them. 

“ Grandfather seems to be scolding 
the boys ; I wonder what they have 
done ? ” said Brother. 

‘ ‘ He is saying something about places 
where we don’t play.” 

“Sister, I’ve just thought how it all 
happened ! The ram-cat often comes 
down here to catch birds — of course she 
doesn’t know it’s wicked to — and maybe 
this morning she came and they followed 
her, and they fell in. That’s just the 
way it happened I ’ ’ 

“ Of course it is. I’m glad we found 
them, if it did make us feel so awful.” 

* ‘ And now we know that grandfather 
is the wisest man in the world! You 
know he said Bingo did not eat them.” 


THE RAM-CAT^S KITTENS 


33 


“ And we were so cross to Bingo.*' 

“And we can have a funeral.’* 

“We can have four, Brother, four 
sweet little funerals ! * * 

‘ ‘ And it will be almost better than 
having a circus.** 

Calamities did not cease in the ram- 
cat’s family, for about two weeks later 
the poor ram-cat herself fell a victim to a 
savage dog, and was found dead near the 
barn. 

“Now you will have to take entire 
care of poor little Snowball,” for so they 
had named her. “You see now that it 
was a good thing that the others were 
drowned. I’m afraid they would have 
been unhappy.” 

“ Yes, indeed, grandfather, it is a very 
good thing,” said Brother soberly. 

All day Snowball was plied with milk 
and even cream, and much of the after- 
noon was spent in making a suitable bed 
for her. Aunt Sie gave them some bits 
c 


34 the EAEM’S little PEOPLE 

of soft blanket, which they put into an 
old pail making quite a cozy nest. After 
it was finished they put it in a corner of 
the cabin and carried their pet to the 
house to have a long romp with her after 
supper. 

They played until dark, when mamma 
said it was high time for both them and 
their kitten to be in bed, so they ran 
down through the moonlight to the cabin 
to put Snowball into her new nest. It 
was quite dark in the little room, but they 
felt about until Sister laid hold of the 
bucket. “ Good-night, you beautiful 
darling, I hope you will sleep well. Kiss 
her. Brother, right between her little 
ears, and then we'll put the dear wee 
thing to bed. There now, in you go. 
You'll be nice and com " 

Splash ! Sputter ! ! Spatter 1 1 ! 

‘ ‘ Me-yow — me-yow ! ' ' 

Oh, Brother, what is it ? What has 
happened ? She's fallen into some- 
thing! Hear her puff — she's drowning. 


THE EAM-CAT’S KITTENS 


35 


Beverly — Randolph — oh, somebody bring 
alight!’^ 

The boys upstairs ran down with a 
light and the scene upon which they came 
threw them into screams of laughter and 
poor Sister into hysterical weeping. 

During the day some papering had been 
going on at the house, and the workmen 
had put their bucket of paste into the 
cabin to have it ready when they should 
begin work in the morning. They had 
set it beside the fine couch prepared for 
Snowball, and in the dark Sister had laid 
her into it. 

As the first glimmer of light showed 
the awful mistake. Brother seized the 
dripping kitten and held it high. Its 
ears were pasted flat to its head, its eyes 
were closed, and from its feebly moving 
paws trickled thick streams of paste. 

“ Oh, don't hold it up like that ! Look 
at its beautiful tail ; it is just like a pipe- 
stem ! " shrieked Sister. “Oh, put it 
on the floor, it is dying — it is dying ! ' ' 


36 THE FARM'S LITTLE PEOPLE 

Brother sadly placed it upon the floor 
and it crept off leaving a trail of paste 
behind it. 

“Is it dead yet ? I can’t look I ” wept 
Sister from under her apron which she 
had thrown over her face. 

“Not quite, Sister; it’s creeping 
around a little yet. Boys, you oughtn’t 
to laugh,” in a voice which suited the 
solemn occasion. 

“ ’ Deed we’s got to larf. It do look 
so mighty funny! Yo’ bettah take it out 
an’ drop it in de trof now,” and they 
kept on with their merriment, until the 
coming of the family, drawn by the up- 
roar. Brother held the pitiable object up 
to be looked at. After a hurried discus- 
sion it was decided to take it to the 
kitchen and wash it in warm water, so a 
procession was formed headed by Brother 
bearing his slippery burden. Poor Snow- 
ball was too bewildered to object very 
much to the tepid bath, though she did 
not submit quite without protest. 


THE RAM-CAT^ S KITTENS 


37 


After the paste was washed off she was 
wrapped up and put into a snug place to 
dry. Then the weary children were car- 
ried off to bed to dream of the awful 
event. 

In the morning when they stole down 
to the kitchen they found Snowball, 
fluffy, frolicsome, and white, and in as 
high spirits as if her nine chances of life 
were not cut down to eight. 






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HOLLYHOCK LADIES 


H, dear, I’m sure I don’t know 
what to do ! Nothing seems 
to be nice this morning. 
Brother is not like he used to 
be, and Bingo has gone off to the field 
with the boys, and Juno shook her head 
at me as if she’d just be glad to hook 
me if I climbed through the bars, and 
Snowball scratched me — ah ! ’ ’ and the 
doleful list finished with a catch in the 
voice which was next door to a sob. 

‘‘Poor Sister, I’m sorry things are 
going so badly with you. How, in what 
way, has Brother changed ? ” asked 
mamma, as she finished cutting a but- 
ton-hole. 

“ I — I think he likes Joey Vale better 
than he does me. He said — well, I don’t 
mean he said it — but he looked as if he 



41 


42 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

wished Td go into the house last week 
when Joey came to play with us. And 
— well — mamma, I think I could have 
sat in between grandfather and Aunt 
Leashie without crowding them much, 
I’d have sat so slim,” and at that Sister 
threw herself upon her mother’s shoulder 
and gave way to the grief which had 
been growing more bitter every moment 
since she had watched her grandfather 
and aunt drive away. 

“ Oh, is that what has spoiled the day 
for you ? Well, after you have cried 
you will feel better, and you will begin 
to recall all the lovely drives you have 
had, and feel sure that if dear, kind 
grandfather could have taken you with 
him he would ” 

‘ ‘ Aunt Leashie offered to let me sit 
on her lap ” 

‘‘Yes, I know she did; but think how 
tired poor Aunt Leashie would have been 
at the end of several miles with a big 
girl on her lap. She offered, because 


HOLL YHO CK LADIES 


43 


she is unselfish; but all the same, we 
must be unselfish too. Now I want you 
to forget that you have been left behind, 
and dry your eyes — like little Sally Wa- 
ters — only not on your frock ; that would 
be pretty awful, wouldn't it ? — and hunt 
Brother up and have a good play. ' * Then 
mamma kissed the sorrowful little girl as 
she laid aside her work and took her 
upon her lap. 

“No, I can't play with Brother, even 
when I'm through crying. He is tying 
bees into the hollyhocks, and they buzz 
so that they terrify me," sobbed the little 
girl as she cuddled up to her mother, 
already beginning to feel the relief of 
tears and the effect of a bracing sym- 
pathy. 

‘ ‘ Tying bees into the hollyhocks ! 
What in the world is he doing that f or ? " 

“ He says they injure the hollyhocks, 
and he wants to teach them a lesson. He 
thinks if he scares them, they won't 
meddle with flowers any more. He 


44 the FARM^S little PEOPLE 


means to keep the bees tied in until 
dark, and — I — I think it is very cruel. 
The poor things will never be able to find 
their way back to the hives. Brother 
says they can because, he says, he be- 
lieves they have cat-eyes and can see in 
the dark. And besides, Tm afraid they 
will smother. Oh, dear, I feel so sorry 
for them — I wish he wouldn't; the poor, 
poor bees I ' ' and Sister went off into 
another flood of tears, which mamma 
saw was going to be the clearing-up 
shower. She waited until it was over 
and a sunny smile showed itself in the 
dimple at the corner of her mouth. 

‘ ‘ He was standing in the high 
chair, and — and it upset with him," 
here the smile was joined by a musi- 
cal little laugh. ‘‘He looked so funny, 
pitching headforemost among the holly- 
hocks, with his legs sticking up in the air, 
just like a big Y," and Sister laughed 
until her eyes brimmed over with another 
kind of tears. “ Poor little chap, he was 


HOLLYHOCK LADIES 


45 


SO scared. At first I was glad he fell, 
and I told him so; but I did feel sorry 
in a minute, for I think he skinned his 
elbow, but he wouldn't own it." 

“ Oh, I’m sorry you said you were 
glad!" 

‘‘So am I, mamma. I think I was 
very cross to Brother. I even almost 
hoped a bee would sting him, he acted 
so stuck up. And he didn’t seem to 
mind not going with grandfather at all. 
Oh, I’m so sorry I said it! Brother is 
such a dear, good little boy, and I am so 
bad. I wish I didn’t mind things any 
more than Brother does." 

“Well, dear, since you have learned 
your lesson, I don’t regret your unhappy 
morning. You have been angry and 
jealous and cross, and you are now 
ashamed of yourself. Instead of blam- 
ing Brother, you have come to see what 
is good in him and bad in yourself. He 
has a very happy disposition. I don’t 
think he does mind things as much as 


46 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

you do, so it is easy for him to be 
amiable and happy. But when you con- 
quer your unkind feelings, you have 
fought a good fight and deserve a great 
deal of credit. I am very proud of my 
little girl when she rules herself. 

‘‘Are you, mamma? Tm so glad, 
ril try always to be good to him. I 
think ril ask him to let me see his poor 
elbow,'* and Sister got upon her feet. 

“And ril go with you, for I think 
Brother will have to find some other way 
to train the bees. I am afraid they will 
sting him." 

“ I don’t know what we can play if 
Brother stops doing that.’’ 

“Perhaps I can find some other play,’’ 
answered her mother as they walked to- 
ward the sunny garden where they could 
see Brother looking very tall upon his 
lofty perch among the old-fashioned 
hollyhocks. 

“What have the bees been doing?’’ 
called mamma as they came near. 



“They are very bad, mamma. They 
buzz in and out of the hollyhocks and 
kick the yellow stuff about so, and — and 
— well they look so bold and fierce that 
Tm pretending to put them in jail. Tve 
got two tied in, and if Sister had only 
helped me, we could 'a had a lot of 
prisoners by this time,*' answered the 
little man, looking rather tired and hot. 

“ But I don’t believe the poor chaps 
are doing anything very bad. Of course 
they look bold and make a lot of noise, 
but that is just their way, and I don’t 
really think they should be put into jail 
for that,” mamma replied. 

“Don’t you?” he said, rather crest- 
fallen. 

“No, I don’t. I have known boys 
and girls to look bold and make a lot of 
noise, but I should never think of trotting 
them off to jail. Come down and let me 
see your elbow ; Sister tells me you have 
hurt it.” 

Down came Brother from his high 





48 THE FARM'S LITTLE PEOPLE 

chair and slid his sleeve up past his little 
tanned wrist to his dimpled white elbow, 
where sure enough the skin was curled 
up into small shavings. 

‘ ‘ Poor Brother ! * * sighed Sister softly 
as she pressed her lips to the hurt. 

‘‘Dear Sister!*' and the arms went 
quickly around her neck, and peace was 
restored. 

Mamma looked at the arm and said 
the injury was not a serious one. “And 
now I would let the prisoners out on 
promise that they will never again disturb 
the hollyhocks. Here are my scissors, 
ril bend down the stalks while you cut 
the strings." 

“Til ask them first. Bee, will you 
promise never to steal yellow stuff again 
if I let you out? " 

“Tell him it's the hollyhocks* money,** 
said Sister. 

“Do you know. Mister Bee, that you 
have been stealing hollyhock money?** 
in a very gruff and terrible voice. 


HOLL YHO CK LADIES 


49 


heard him promise; I heard him 
buzz,** and Sister hopped gayly up and 
down. ** Out he comes ! Oh ho, Mister 
Bee I** 

“Come out. Mister Bee, and tell all 
your friends.** 

Snip went the scissors, up bounded 
the stalk, and out flew the bee fuming and 
scolding. 

The other culprit was set free with like 
ceremonies. 

‘ ‘ What shall we do now ? * * after watch- 
ing the bees out of sight. 

“Well, if I were a little girl and boy, 
I ** 

“Oh mamma! How could you be 
both? Who ever heard of even a 
mamma being a little girl and boy? ** and 
they seized her hands and danced around 
in high glee that they had caught her in 
a trap. 

‘ * But I did not say I could be a little 
girl and boy. I only said if I were. 
But then maybe you don*t care to know 

D 


50 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

what I would do if Toosle should happen 
along and touch me on the tip of my 
nose with his wand, and turn me into a 
little girl and boy,** and mamma looked 
as if under such charming conditions she 
knew of thousands of things she could 
do, and of millions of plays she could 
play. 

‘‘Oh yes we do, yes we do. Tell us, 
tell us. You don*t know how hard it is 
for little girls and boys to know what to 
play sometimes.** 

“Don*t I though? Maybe I have 
never been a little girl.** 

“Oh, I wish I had been a little girl 
when you were one. Tm sure you had 
such fun! ** cried Sister. 

“Well, if I were one this morning I 
think rd play — let me see what Pd play,** 
said mamma musingly, as if sorting over 
a multitude of joys in her mind. “Yes, 
I think as to-day is rather warm outside, 
I would go into the summer house and 
play hollyhock ladies.** 


HOLL YHO CK LADIES 


5 


“Oh mamma, you never told us about 
that play before. What in the world is 
it?»* 

“I'll show you. We’ll pick a holly- 
hock of each shade — here, toss them into 
my apron — then we’ll get some single 
poppies, and some of those little green 
bells that grow down by the currants; 
and some ribbon grass ; and some thorns 
off the honey locusts — and then we’ll go 
to the summer house.” 

“Oh, how lovely ! Pick away. Brother ; 
I know it’s going to be a perfectly 
lovely play. I’m so glad I decided not 
to go with Aunt Leashie and grand- 
father ! ’ ’ and Sister buzzed about among 
the flowers like a busy bee herself. 

“Hadn’t we better get two of each 
shade?” called Brother. 

“Perhaps it would be well,” agreed 
mamma. 

In a few minutes her sewing apron 
looked quite baggy with its floral treasures, 
and they turned to the vine-clad summer 



house. In the center stood a round table 
upon which they piled their flowers, and 
then they drew the chairs up around it. 

“Now, Brother, let me have all the 
string you have in your pockets.** 

“Hurry, Brother, Tm so anxious to 
see what mamma is going to do.** 

The string was dragged out in tangled 
little wads, and mamma, seating herself, 
picked out her first blossom, turned it 
carefully inside out and tied it about half 
an inch below the crown with a bit of 
string, which she afterward skillfully 
covered with a ribbon grass sash, and 
stood it down upon the table — a very fair 
lady in a brilliant red silk gown topped 
by a neat little round head. 

“ Now she must have a parasol to pro- 
tect her complexion. Give me that little 
red poppy, Sister.** 

All the green was picked off the poppy 
and a thorn stuck into the center and 
fixed firmly in the lady*s belt, and she 
was ready to walk forth into the world. 


HOLL YHOCK LADIES 


53 


‘ ‘ What a beauty ! ’ ' Brother said ; 
“ and I believe we can make men too.'" 
“All right; make whatever you can.’* 
Away he slipped and soon came back 
with his straw hat full of flowers . * ‘ These 

are for their legs,” he explained, laying 
down a handful of the neatly rolled up 
buds of morning glories. 



‘ * Just the thing, ’ ’ said mamma ; ‘ * your 
men will look like gay cavaliers. If you 
look into the hollyhocks you’ll find that 
some have plumes on their heads, and 
they will do for the knights.” 

She laid down her work and watched 
Brother. His gentleman turned out very 
like her lady, except that two thorns upon 
which were strung morning glory buds 
were stuck into the gathered folds of the 



54 THE FARM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

skirt which he proceeded to snip away 
into a doublet. The blunt ends of the 
thorns made very decent feet upon which 
the gallant knight did not stand much 
more unsteadily than the knights of old 
often stood upon their feet. When it 
was done he looked up brightly at his 
mother for approval. 

“ IsnT our dear little boy clever, 
mamma?** said Sister. ‘‘That is just a 
darling of a man. Make a lot of them, 
Brother.** 

Thus praised he worked with a will, 
and Sister began to make children out of 
the little green bells, which stood up 
primly upon the edge of their skirts. 
The three worked away busily and soon 
had a fine array of brilliant ladies, gentle- 
men, and children. And then the gayety 
began. They were formed into a pro- 
cession, marched to an imaginary ball- 
room, and stood up for dancing. 

“I think they ought to have a supper 
after their ball,** said mamma; “ and if 


HOLL YHO CK LADIES 


55 


you will come to the house with me, 
Brother, I will give you refreshments for 
our friends from flower land, and enough 
for you and Sister too, so you can eat 
with them. Sister, you can arrange the 
supper hall while we are away.'* 

As they went out of sight in the direc- 
tion of the house. Sister fell to work 
making ready for the feast. Sofas of 
great soft pink roses were brought in for 
the hollyhock ladies to tilt themselves 
against, while the knights were stood 
about a monstrous sunflower which was 
to serve as a table, and the prim little 
green children were grouped in a corner. 
When all was finished she threw herself 
down upon a bench where she could keep 
her eyes upon the company, and waited 
for Brother. 

And now happened a strange and won- 
derful thing. She was just thinking what 
a lovely thing it must have been to live 
in the time of fairies — ^to talk to them — 
to 


56 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

Suddenly she felt a soft patter across 
her bare foot, like raindrops falling gently 
upon it, and looking down, she could not 
believe her eyes when she saw, as plain 
as bright daylight could make it, the 
dearest, the sweetest little carriage ! It 
was made of a softly tinted pearl shell, 
and drawing it were six snow-white 
horses, perfectly shaped but no larger 
than mice. It was their little black hoofs 
she had felt on her foot. 

She was about to fall upon her knees 
beside the dainty carriage, but she looked 
again — ^to make sure that she really was 
looking — when there, right before her 
very eyes, stepping down from the car- 
riage, was a darling fairy queen about as 
tall as her little finger. 

“Oh, you sweet, sweet creature! I 
know you; you are a fairy, though I 
never saw one before in all my life. Do, 
do let me hold you in my hand. Til be 
very careful of you, Dll not squeeze you. 
Oh, if only Brother could see you I ** 


HOLL YHO CK LADIES 


57 


“ Brother will see me. I have come to 
the ball you are giving for my young 
ladies and knights.'' 

And there, sure enough, came troops 
of fairies, from where Sister could not 
tell, until one of the young lady fairies 
caught her high-heeled slipper and pitched 
down on her nose, and then Sister saw 
that the flower ladies and gentlemen were 
turning into fairies as fast as they could, 
and floating down from the table to join 
their queen. 

‘ ‘ I would be sorry to go back to fairy- 
land without having a chat with Brother," 
continued the queen, gracefully gathering 
the folds of her skirt together and step- 
ping into Sister's outstretched hand ; ‘‘for 
I want to thank him for his efforts to 
protect my people from the attacks of 
fierce bees, as they call themselves, though 
they are really goblins who were created 
to drive poor little girls and boys to their 
lessons by being held up as examples of 
industry. They are greedy creatures, who 


58 THE FARM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

suck all the sweetness out of my flowers, 
and get nothing but praise from short- 
sighted mortals for their industrious habits. 
He is the first one who has ever rightly 
understood them, as I saw by the course 
he took this morning. And I was glad 
to see that you were at last willing to help 
him.^^ 

Sister could not speak. She just sat 
and looked at the dainty, the exquisite 
creature standing on her palm. She was 
afraid to move a finger lest she should 
crush her, and she wondered how she 
could so clearly hear every word spoken 
by such a mite. The queen went on : 

‘ ‘ My brother Toosle ' * 

“Oh, are you Toosle’s sister? We 
know him very well.'* 

“Little girl," with rather a stern man- 
ner, “fairy queens are not accustomed 
to being interrupted." 

“Oh, please excuse me; I was so sur- 
prised to find that you were Toosle 's 

I mean Mister Toosle's sister." 


ROLL YHO CK LADIES 59 

‘ ‘ If you were surprised that makes a 
difference and I’ll excuse you. But as I 
was about to say, Toosle and I have 
often talked of coming to see you and 
Brother, to ask you how you would like 
to be assistant fairy king and queen.” 
Sister gave a little squeal of delight at 
this, but seeing a gleam of severity come 
into the corner of the queen’s eye, she 
did not speak. ‘‘People have an idea 
that fairies are dying out, but it is a great 
mistake. They are increasing rapidly. 
And what with choosing fairy godmothers 
and godfathers, and sending fairies to 
keep girls and boys out of mischief, and 
to watch the goblins, really we are often 
so tired when night comes, that no matter 
how fine the moonlight, I am so stiff 
and worn out, and my head is in such a 
whirl, that I have no heart to dance. So 
you see we need help. Then too we 
have often thought that your friend Juno 
would make a good horned monster, to 
fight the ” 


6o THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 


“ Why mamma, I do believe Sister is 
fast asleep, said Brother tiptoeing into 
the summer house and leaning over her. 
“Her eyes are shut and she breathes just 
as she does at night. 

“Poor little thing, she is tired out. 
Let her sleep, answered mamma softly. 



ARE THERE FAIRIES? 



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Jo:. ' ^ S 

L’^xx.A •to A ..•'*. _••* " ^ 0 . *: • •# ^ 







ARE THERE FAIRIES? 


ISTER, I just want to ask you, 
do you believe there are fair- 
ies on grandfather's farm?" 

“Yes, Brother, I do." 
“Why?" 

“Well now. Brother! Do I 
have to tell you why? Didn't I 
see the queen of the fairies in the 
summer house, with my own eyes? And 
haven't we always known about Toosle? 
And didn't Aunt Leashie show us the 
fairy path the very first time we ever went 
through the woods to Mrs. Brown's? 
And haven't we this very minute found 
this big leaf which must be a fairy's bath- 
tub? Ain't I touching it with my first fin- 
ger this very second " Sister stopped 

to take breath, which gave Brother a 
chance to say somewhat doubtfully : 

63 


64 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 



‘ ‘ I know Sister — but ' * 

* ‘ Brother, I think it is very wicked of 
you to say ‘but.* I should think you 
would almost be afraid to go to sleep at 
night, after asking me if I believe there 
are fairies anywhere. I think it*s dan- 
gerous.** 

Brother looked down, ashamed to meet 
Sister* s eyes. 

“Only — sometimes, you see — I — I 

just kind of — of — wonder ** 

‘ ‘ If you are going to stand right here 
in the edge of this lonesome woods where 
there may be bears, almost out of sight 
of the house, and say that you don*t be- 
lieve in fairies any more, I shall go 
home,** and Sister turned as if to put 
her threat into execution, then looked 
over her shoulder to add, “ Tm not going 
to stay here and be turned into a hollow 
stump maybe, or an old witch, and see 
you go hopping off, a big toad or an ole 
har, and neither of us ever, ever, ev-er 
be able to speak to each other again. It 


AJ?£ THERE FAIRIES? 


65 


makes me nearly cry just to think of it.’* 
Coming back, “Oh, Brother, don’t say 
you don’t believe in fairies any more. 
Is it Joey Vale who has been talking to 
you?” 

“Oh no, Joey Vale has never said a 
word against them.” 

“ Then it is that bad Tom Nellis — and 
he stones birds, you know he does.” 

“Yes, it was. He said ” 

“ Don’t tell me what he said.” 

“ Oh, of course I don’t believe him. 
I just wanted to see if you still felt cer- 
tain about seeing the fairy queen that 
day in the summer house. Because if 
you do, then I’m sure; for I guess you 
know better than he does whether you 
were asleep.” 

“ Does that awful boy pretend that I 
was asleep ? ’ ’ 

“ Yes,” with a solemn nod. 

“Then, Brother, I don’t think we 
ought ever to go over to the Nellises again 
to play ; they never let us hold their baby, 

E 


66 THE FARM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 

anyhow. I think mamma ought to forbid 
us to speak to them, don't you? " 

“Yes, I do. Just think. Sister, he 
said you were a goose " 

“ Oh, my! ” 

“ And that we were both greenies." 
«<0h— h— hi " 

* ‘ And that he had lived here all his 
life, and had never seen a fairy." 

“ As if fairies were likely to appear to 
such a boy! Beverly has seen ole bars 
which he says weren't there when he 
went to hit them ; and he steals the eggs 
you know. It doesn't take such very good 
people to see ole bars, but people have 
to be very good before they can see 
fairies." 

“Oh, yes, they have to be good, 
awful good ; but we have come pretty near 
seeing Toosle a few times. And now I 
feel sure that this is a fairy bath-tub. 
Let’s go off a little way and see if any of 
them come to bathe in it. Let's climb 
that bent tree and watch them from it." 


AJ?£ THERE FAIRIES? 


67 


“The very thing! You are such a 
darling little boy. I expect you'll have 
to boost me ; I'm not very good at climb- 
ing." 

“Well, girls are most always not, but 
you climb better than other girls — better 
than Tom Nellis could if he was a girl, 
I guess. Sister, look! It's a perfect 
Swiss Family Robinson tree! We'll go 
up and live in it. We've even got Bingo 
along, and he can be Turk and Bill." 

“Oh, how lovely! You do think of 
such nice plays. Brother. I'll go up first 
and you can hand the things up to me, 
and I can hang them where jackals and 
things won't get them. We've never had 
half as nice a play before." 

Brother and Sister, with their ever-faith- 
ful Bingo, had started out for a picnic, 
with no orders, only that they should 
keep within sight of the house. They 
had a bountiful lunch, and carried their 
usual baggage which was, a trowel for 
digging wells and ponds, a small rug to 


sit upon while they ate, and a popgun 
as a means of defense against wild ani- 
mals. These, with a large supply of 
string and rope, and a hammer, which 
Brother always insisted upon taking ‘ ‘ in 
case of accidents,*' and an old milk 
strainer in which to catch crawfish, 
should they feel like taking up the raising 
of lobsters, completed their outing lug- 
gage. 

All this was unpacked from the express 
which had been drawn under the tree. 
With much scrambling and laughter and 
many slidings back Sister at last gained 
the perch she wished. It was a great 
limb which years before had been partly 
broken from the trunk, and which had 
thrown forth many upright branches 
which now formed a leafy corridor along 
which the two little ones could 
patter in their bare feet, as happy 
and as free as the squirrels which 
leaped from bough to bough 
above them. 


A/^JS THERE FAIRIES? 69 

“Is it nice ? ' * called up Brother, his 
cheeks glowing and his eyes shining. 

“It is per-fectly lovely, only I seem 
very high. Do you suppose I can ever 
get down again?” 

“Oh, yes; let down the string” — 
Sister, through Brother’s forethought 
had carried up a bit of twine with a peb- 
ble tied to the end — “and I’ll begin to 
send up the things. Night is coming on, 
and the jackals may be here any instant,” 
he said in as firm and manly a voice as 
he could muster up. 

“Oh, you kind of scare me when you 
talk so fiercely. I feel just exactly as if 
we had been shipwrecked, and hadn’t 
but one minute before night to get all 
fixed up, and before the wolves would 
begin to howl. So, hurry up. Brother. 
If only we could for once all be ship- 
wrecked ! Shall I tie it to a limb? Oh, 
dear, dear. I’ve dropped the string! ” 

“There now! I knew you’d do 
that! ” said Brother in a cross tone. He 


70 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

did not often get out of patience, but it 
certainly was very trying after boosting 
and hoisting even a thin girl up a slippery 
tree, to have her drop the string before a 
single piece of wreckage had been raised 
to a place of safety. 

*‘Well, please don^t be cross to me. 
I was so frightened just thinking that 
maybe you'd be eaten by wild animals 

“ Sister ! Haven't I the gun? " 

“ Oh, yes. I'm so glad; but I forgot 
about the gun. You climb up, dear, and 
bring me the string ; I won't drop it again. 
You might pjay you were a monkey 
while you're climbing, and carry the 
string in your teeth and jabber. Oh, 
how beautifully you do it! " For 
Brother had at once forgotten his griev- 
ance in the delight of imagining himself 
a monkey, and he squeaked merrily as he 
twitched himself up the tree. “ Isn't it 
a perfect bower? Will we be able to get 
Bingo up, do you suppose? " 


ARE THERE FAIRIES? 


71 


Of course we can; he's just longing 
to climb up now. Look at him." And 
in truth Bingo was doing his best by- 
pawing up the tree and barking shrilly at 
his friends. 

Brother made the twine fast to a twig 
and then deftly swung himself down by 
the low drooping branches, which at the 
far end of the limb almost touched the 
ground. 

One after another the things were 
raised and bestowed in places of safety, 
and then it came Bingo's turn. But try 
as they might, they were unable to get 
him up. Brother tied the rope around 
his ‘ ' waist ' ' and lifted from below while 
Sister pulled from above. But Bingo's 
terror was so alarming and his yelps so 
piteous that, thinking they must be kill- 
ing him, they quickly freed him, where- 
upon he took to his heels and tore off 
toward the house with his tail tucked 
tightly between his legs. 

' ‘ What shall we do ? " cried Sister as 


72 THE EAEM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 


she clasped her hands and watched his 
flight. “ Turk and Bill have both gone ! 
We have nothing left but your trusty gun. 
Come up quickly, Mr. Swiss Family, and 
pull up the ladder after you ; I hear the 
howl of wolves in the distance ! * * 

Brother scrambled up in mad haste, 
jerking the rope up after him, and all 
was made secure. 

‘‘Now we will break our fast,** she 
said, speaking in the fascinating language 
of the Robinson family whom they had 
long loved and envied. “ The milk from 
these fresh cocoanuts will do for us to 
drink until we can plant some tea and 
coffee, or catch a cow.** And so on, as 
Sister carefully spread out their lunch on 
the broad limb. 

As they ate, they listened to the imag- 
inary roars of wild beasts, or talked of 
whether their ship would go to pieces 
before they could get off all the valua- 
bles. And they planned how, next day, 
they would drive Juno into the wood and 


A/^E THERE FAIRIES? 


73 


tether her under the tree, and coax Bingo 
back, and bring Snowball and the two 
pigeons. With all these — and possibly 
Sol Brown and Joey Vale — ^they could 
be as nearly perfectly happy as children 
who had not actually been shipwrecked 
could expect to be. 

During the afternoon Brother went 
down many times from the house tree, 
and made trips into the “jungles'* 
around them and along the coasts, always 
bringing back reports of the wonderful 
things he had seen, and from these trips 
he sometimes returned fleeing as for his 
life, upon which he would be helped to a 
place of safety by Sister, and after 
which — so totally to them did the real 
give way to the unreal — they did not fail 
to “return thanks," after the frequent 
custom of the pious Swiss family which 
they personated. Sister would gladly 
have joined in these excursions, but she 
could not get quickly back into the tree 
in case of attack, so she had to remain 


74 the FARM^S little PEOPLE 

on high and receive the spoils as they 
were sent up to her by means of the rope. 

It was a long, long happy day, and 
they could scarcely believe their ears 
when they heard the afternoon express go 
shrieking up the valley. 

‘‘ Start home the moment you hear the 
express train,'' was the one order which 
ruled their wandering summer days, and 
which they never dreamed of disregard- 
ing. So now they made no question, but 
began to put their things together and 
lower them to their wagon. Everything 
was down at last, even Sister, who, with 
moans and timid cries, had slid down the 
trunk, and they were about to turn their 
faces homeward, when she cried out : 

“Oh, my hat! I have left my hat in 
the tree. Can you get it for me. 
Brother? " 

“Course I can get it! But, Sister, 
you oughtened to leave your hats in trees. 
Now we'll be late, and mamma will think 
we're lost again." 


ARE THERE FAIRIES? 


75 


Up the tree he went, rather slowly this 
time, for his many climbs had wearied 
him, and made his way along the limb to 
where the hat was hanging. 

“ Catch it! he called, as he tossed it 
down. 

But alas, poor Brother I He leaned a 
little too far to fling it clear of the 
branches, and losing his balance, came 
crashing through and fell at Sister's feet. 
He did not move. 

“ Oh, Brother! " she screamed, as she 
threw herself beside him. 

He lay with closed eyes and did not 
answer her for what seemed to her a very, 
very long time. Then his eyelids trem- 
bled and slowly lifted, and he looked at 
her in a dazed way, trying to smile. 

‘‘Oh, darling, darling, where are you 
hurt? Do speak to me! " 

He put his grimy little hand into hers 
and answered slowly: 

“Don't — cry. I — I just ache — all 


over. 


76 THE FARJVPS LITTLE PEOPLE 

Oh, Brother, do you think your back 
is broken, like the man’s who fell off the 
wharf ? Can you sit up ? Let me put 
you into the express and pull you home. 
Oh, dear, dear! It is all my fault. I 
made you go back for my hat.” 

“That’s no matter. Maybe I can 
walk; I’ll try.” 

But when with Sister’s help he tried to 
get up, he sank back with a cry of pain, 
into a little heap upon the ground. 

“You must go home without me. I 
can’t get into the wagon.” 

“ Oh, I’ll never, never go home again. 
I won’t leave you! ” and she gave way 
to another flood of tears. 

“ But mamma will be anxious.” 

“ Mamma would never want me to 
leave you. Oh, I wish I had fallen out 
of the tree! I will put the rug under 
you. Do you think it is your leg? ” 

“ No, I don’t think so — it’s — all over 
me.” 

But pulling the poor little man upon 


A/^£ THERE FAIRTES? 


77 


the rug made him moan and beg her to 
leave him where he had fallen. And 
then Sister's heart seemed to break. 
His lips were white and the beads of 
moisture stood on his forehead and damp- 
ened his yellow hair. A line from a 
song which her mother often sang came 
into her mind : 

The death damp was on his pure white brow. 

She was sure he was dying. They 
had been happy and loving little people, 
and yet — ah, she could not help remem- 
bering — there had been times when she 
had “got mad" at Brother. Once she 
had even pinched him ; several times she 
had pushed him and slapped him ; once 
she had even hoped a bee would sting 
him. Oh, those terrible memories! She 
sobbed so bitterly that the little boy turned 
stiffly and put a loving arm around her, 
as she lay beside him with her face to the 
ground. 

“ Dear Sister, don't cry." 


78 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

“I can^t help it, Brother; Tve often 
been so bad to you, I — I — I’ve slapped 
you a good many times. I was cross to 
you this morning about the fairies. And 
now you are going to die, because I made 
you fall out of the tree. And if you die 
I want to die too ! ’ ’ 

“ But maybe I won’t die; perhaps I’ll 
just have to have my arms and legs cut 
off,” suggested Brother with a view to 
cheering his sister. 

“No, dear; I think you are going to 
die. You are as white as snow,” she 
answered with the frankness of childhood. 
“ Oh, if only I could scream loud enough 
to make them hear at the house ! Shall 
I run to the edge of the woods and try? ” 

“Yes.” 

She kissed him tenderly and then sped 
away. She ran out clear of the trees and 
called. She stood upon her tiptoes and 
shouted out first one name and then 
another, at the top of her voice. But 
no one answered. She saw grandfather 


THERE FAIRIES? 


79 


come home from the post office and go 
into the house ; she saw Sally come out 
of the kitchen and get an armful of wood 
and then go back. They both looked 
very, very far away. It was no use to 
try. They would not hear her. 

“ I can't make any one hear ; I’ll not 
leave you again all alone." 

“ Except for the fairies, Sister." 

‘ ‘ The fairies might help us if they only 
knew about you. But why do you keep 
your eyes shut, dear ? " 

‘‘ I don't know, only it rests me. I 
feel — kind of tired — I guess I want — to 

go to sleep — I think it is night — I " 

He became silent. 

“Oh, he is dying, I know he is," 
wept the wretched little girl, as she gently 
lifted his head into her lap and watched 
his quiet face. 

Suddenly the blue eyes opened, and he 
exclaimed sharply, 

“ Sister ! did you see him ? " 

‘ ‘ Who ? Where ? Grandfather ? ' ' 


8o THE FAR APS LITTLE PEOPLE 

“ No, not grandfather — Toosle.’* 

“ Where, Brother, oh, where ? ** 

Right here. He's gone now; but 
he said, ‘ Why don't you wave a flag ? 
Shipwrecked people always wave flags 
and shoot off cannons.' " 

** But we haven't any flags or cannons. 
It is quite light out of the woods, and I 
know I could make them see a flag if 
only I had one." 

They were both silent a moment, then 
Brother said, with some of his usual en- 
ergy: 

‘ ‘ Take off your white apron and tie it 
to the gun, and go out and wave it and 
wave it ! " 

“ Oh, Brother, you always know just 
what to do ! I'll come back just the 
minute I can." 

“What dat w'ite t'ing a-bobbin' up 
an' down ober dere by de woods?" 
asked Randolph of Beverly as the two 
boys came up from the cornfields. 


THERE FAIRIES? 


8i 


“ I dun know. Looks like some trick 
ob de chillun, tryin* to make us believe 
it's a ghos'." 

“Well, it's a-wavin' at us, whatever 
'tis. It sutt'nly is a-wavin' '' 

“ Deir ma dun know if dey be in de 
woods so late." 

“ Ho, dey nebber know when it gits 
late. I reckon we better go 'roun' dat 
way an' bring 'em home." 

“ Oh, boys, come, come quick ! Hurry, 
hurry ! Brother fell out of a tree, and L 
can't get him home." 

The boys quickened their pace to a 
run, and were soon hastening with Sister 
to where poor Brother lay. 

It was easy work for Randolph to lift 
him in his strong arms and carry him 
steadily homeward. Sister became very 
gay in the sudden deliverance which had 
come, and she walked ahead with the 
* * flag ' ' over her shoulder, trying to 
make Brother laugh by showing him how 


82 THE FARM’S LITTLE PEOPLE 


she had waved it to the boys ; and Bev- 
erly, who came behind with the baggage, 
told him they ‘ ‘ come powerful near run- 
nin%** thinking it was a ghost. 

The company was seen by the family, 
and mamma and the aunts came hurrying 
to meet it, while Bingo penitently came 
behind. And so Brother was taken home 
and laid upon a heap of cushions on the 
sofa. Loving hands ministered to him, 
and grandfather, who in his early years 
had studied to be a doctor, made a care- 
ful examination, and soon told them that 
no bones were broken, but that the mus- 
cles of the back were strained by the fall 
and that he was badly bruised. 

A warm bath and a gentle rubbing 
soon relieved him of much of the pain, 
and the poor little man was able, from 
his couch, to join with Sister in the lively 
story of their day’s doing. Her spirits 
had risen almost beyond control when she 
found that Brother was still to be spared 
to them, and she gave a funny account of 


ARE THERE FAIRIES? 83 

the rise and downfall of the “ Swiss 
Family Robinson/’ adding extra touches 
as she noticed Brother’s enjoyment. 

‘‘Well, I am certain of one thing,” 
said grandfather. “If ever Brother is 
shipwrecked he’ll know just what to do. 
It isn’t every boy with the breath knocked 
out of him, and his back all strained, 
who would think to have his sister tie her 
apron on his popgun and wave it for a 
flag of distress.” 

“ Oh, but I didn’t think of it, grand- 
father. It was Toosle who told me to 
do it,” said Brother, getting up on his 
elbow. “You see I seemed to go to 
sleep, and there he was, just squealing 
at me to wave a flag. He was such a 
funny looking little fellov/ ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ And now. Brother, you have seen 
Toosle, and I have seen the fairy queen, 
and so now we know that there are fairies 
on grandfather’s farm, eh. Brother ? ” 



THE PARTY 



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THE PARTY 


0, thank you, I won't get out. I 
must be at home before dark. I 
only drove around to ask if you 
would send the children over to 

.H- 

Fair View to-morrow. My nieces 
from Baltimore are with us, and the 
Beldon children are coming ; so are sev- 
eral families nearer us, and we'll have 
quite a party. Send them in the morn- 
ing and let them stay until evening." 

‘‘ Oh, thank you. The children will 
be more than glad to go. It will be a 
delightful day for them. Won't it, chil- 
dren ? ' ' 

They could only clutch each other's 
hands and gasp out : “I should think so ! 
Thank you for asking us. Miss Kate." 

Then Miss Kate leaned out and shook 
hands with mamma, left her love for 

87 


88 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

grandfather and the aunties, kissed her 
hand to the children and drove away. 

“ We’re go-ing over to Fair View, 
we’re go-ing over to Fair View ! ” chanted 
Sister in rhythmical measure as she skip- 
ped off across the lawn toward the sun- 
set, her long fair hair streaming out over 
her shoulders as she went. 

“ We’re go-ing over to Fair View, 
we’re go-ing over to Fair View! ” chant- 
ed Brother, a yard or two behind her. 

“We’ll cross the yawning valley!” 
came from Sister. 

‘ ‘ And we’ll cross the yawning valley ! ’ ’ 
echoed Brother. 

The children held a belief that they al- 
ways felt like yawning while crossing a 
certain valley. 

“ And we’ll ride on Lou-ey’s po-nee,” 
came Sister’s voice from the far edge of 
the lawn. 

“Yes, we’ll ri-hide on Lou-ey’s po- 
nee!” echoed Brother again, growing a 
little short of breath. 


THE PARTY 89 

“Are you getting out of breath, 
Brother? ** skipping lightly. 

“Yes, in-deed I — h — am, Sister." 

“Then with a hop we’ll stop. Broth- 
er," and circling around on one foot, 
closely followed by Brother, she dropped 
upon the grass. 

‘ ‘ The very next thing to being a 
fairy," she said in her everyday tone. 
“ I’d as soon go to Miss Kate’s to spend 
the day." 

“I’d even rather than to be a fairy. 
Because, you know, if you’re a fairy — 
well — even if you are a fairy, boys— 
that is bad boys, like the Nellises — don’t 
believe you are, and then it’s just the 
same as if you wasn’t." 

“It’s a blessing that the Nellises won’t 
be there." 

“I should think it is." Then rather 
gloomily, ‘ ‘ Sister, do you think the 
strange girls will be stuck up ? " 

“No, I do not think they will be; but 
if they are, we’ll have to talk graund.” 


90 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 


Talking grand — or graund, as they pro- 
nounced it, to give it a more elegant 
sound — was the using of a very haughty 
tone by Sister and a deep and manly 
tone by Brother. They usually ‘ ‘ talked 
graund ' * when they played ' ‘ lady come 
to see,^* and also when they were with 
children whom they stood somewhat in 
awe of; and the practice had been in- 
vented by Sister as a means of support- 
ing their dignity when they felt it to be 
in peril. 

‘ ‘ Why are you two little ' toads sitting 
there in the grass ? * * called grandfather 
as he came home from the post office, and 
stopped to look toward them, shading his 
eyes from the level rays of the setting 
sun with his hand. 

‘‘Just think, grandfather,'* springing 
up and running to him with outstretched 
arms, “ we are invited to a party at Miss 
Kate's, and it is to last all day, from 
the morning until sunset. We wish you 
were a little boy so you could go too." 


THE PARTY 


91 


‘ ‘ Maybe I can go even if I am not a 
little boy," said grandfather. “You 
don’t think Miss Kate would send me 
home, do you? ’’ 

“ Oh, grandfather, just think of a 
grown-up gentleman being sent home!" 

“Well, I suppose you’ll want some- 
thing to eat, even if you are going to a 
party to-morrow, so you had much better 
come in to your supper, and then we’ll 
arrange howto get you there and back." 

“ Grandfather," began Sister rather 
timidly, * * would you and mamma and the 
aunties be willing to let us take old Char- 
ley and drive all alone to Miss Kate’s? ’’ 

Grandfather looked rather doubtful at 
this and made his mouth look as though 
he were going to whistle. “ I don’t 
know about that." 

“I’m sure dear old Charley would not 
run away with us," urged Brother. 

“Oh no, he would not run away; 
there would be more danger of his stand- 
ing still with you." 


92 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

“ But I could get out and pull him.** 
‘ ‘ And I could lean over the dash- 
board and push him.** 

Grandfather laughed. “ Fm afraid it 
would be too much of a responsibility for 
two such little people.** 

‘ ‘ But, grandfather, that is just what 
we would like. All my life I*ve wanted 
to take Brother on a journey where Td 
have all the — ^the re-spons*bility of him. 
He could get out often and look at the 
buckles and wheels.** 

But what if Charley should decide to 
stop and rest just as you were cross- 
ing the yawning valley, and you should 
sit and yawn at each other until you went 
to sleep, and Charley went to sleep, and 
none of you would wake until evening, 
and the party would be over.** 

“Oh, how perfectly awful that would 
be! ** 

After talking over the proposed drive 
in all its lights, it was finally decided 
that it would be quite safe for the chil- 


THE PARTY 


93 


dren to take old Charley and drive them- 
selves as far as Mrs. Vale's the next 
morning, where they would pick Joey up, 
and with him make the rest of the jour- 
ney to Fair View, two miles farther on. 

Many were the charges and warnings 
given to them as they started. The two 
little ones were kissed and hugged and 
as many good-byes spoken as if they 
were starting for a journey around the 
world. Indeed a journey around the 
world could hardly have impressed them 
more deeply. All things seemed to com- 
bine to begin the festive day well. The 
sun shone brightly, the birds sang. 
Brother was as well as if he had never 
been the head of the Swiss Family Rob- 
inson, Sister had had most radiant dreams 
all night, and old Charley was in his 
kindliest humor. 

“You had better go down past the 
barn, so Charley can drink at the branch ; 
then he will not want to stop at any of 
the other drinking places. Sister will 


94 the EAEM’S little PEOPLE 

drive as far as the crooked oak, then 
Brother will take his turn and drive to 
Mrs. Vale's. And you had better leave 
Bingo there until you come back, be- 
cause he might want to fight dogs along 
the way." 

The children promised to remember 
and obey all directions, and the wheels 
began to turn slowly along the grassy 
carriage way, which led across the upper 
part of the vineyard, and down a long 
slope at the foot of which ran a little 
brook, or “ branch," as such is called in 
Virginia. In this Charley dearly loved 
to drink and meditate, with his feet firmly 
planted among the pebbles and the clear 
water running over them. Sometimes he 
stood so long that Brother more than 
once had been obliged to climb out over 
the back of the buggy and wade around 
to his head and lead him to land. He 
was always forgiven for these failures, as 
his little friends believed that when he 
‘ ‘ went in wading he got to thinking 


THE PARTY 


95 


about when he was a colt and forgot all 
about being a horse/' 

But this morning it would be rather a 
serious thing if he were to forget, as 
Brother had on shoes and stockings and 
his best white sailor suit. So they used 
all the time between the house and brook 
planning what to do should he stop in 
the brook. 

And sure enough, Charley did stop, and 
he seemed to forget even more completely 
than usual. He must have thought over 
each of his coltish days separately. 
Brother was just about to undress his feet 
when he was much relieved to see coming 
along the road an old man. The old man 
saw their trouble and turned into the field. 

‘‘ Can't you make your horse go ? " 
No, sir; and I've got my shoes and 
stockings and my good clothes on, and 
so I can't wade in to pull him out." 

‘ ‘ And can two such little girls drive 
about alone ? " 

They were carefully tucked under a 


96 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

linen carriage robe to protect them from 
dust, so Brother's trousers were hidden 
from view, and the long, light hair hang- 
ing about his chubby face made him look 
as much like a girl as like a boy. Still, 
a boy’s heart beat within his bosom, and 
it was not in a boy’s nature to let such a 
mistake go. So he said in a polite and 
formal manner : 

“ You misunderstand me, sir; I am a 
boy.” 

But the old gentleman must have been 
very deaf, for he replied smilingly : 

“Well, I’m nigh on to eighty years, 
and I never saw two such pretty little 
girls before.” 

Poor Brother looked sad, and was 
about to explain further, when Sister 
nudged him, and whispered to him not 
to mind, then piped out shrilly : “We are 
going to a party, sir, and we are not in 
our bare feet, so we can’t go into the 
water, and we will be very glad if you 
will please pull him out for us.” 


THE PARTY 


97 


“Yes, that is what I came to do/' 
And he hooked the bent head of his cane 
into Charley's bridle and led him ashore. 
“You had better not let him go into any 
more water, and drive carefully. Good- 
bye, little ladies." 

“ Good-bye, sir, and thank you very 
much." 

They began again their slow forward 
movement, but Brother objected : “ Sister, 
you ought to have let me explain ; now 
he will always think I am a girl." 

At the foot of every little rise of ground 
Charley stopped to rest, and again at the 
top. At each of these pauses, which 
his loving little friends thought were 
necessary in order to restore his breath 
and strength, they bemoaned their weight 
and wondered if they were driving him too 
fast. At last a turn in the road brought 
them in sight of the Vale farmhouse, and 
they were glad to see Joey (to whom 
word had been sent) standing in the road 
and waving for them to hurry. 

G 


98 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

“Joey has on shoes and stockings/* 
said Brother aghast. 

“ Red stockings,** added Sister. 

“ He is awfully dressed up. I didn*t 
know he had shoes or stockings, did 
you ?** 

“ No; and I do hope he won't seem 
proud with us. I'm more afraid of him, 
though he always seems an awfully big 
boy. I'm almost sorry we came.** 

“Never mind. Sister; 1*11 tell him 
about the quail's nest that we have most 
found, and that will make him think we 
are rather big." 

But in spite of their fears, Joey greeted 
them in a most cordial and gay manner. 

He looked overheated and crowded 
into his clothes, and his hands and face 
had rather a puffy look from the un- 
wonted collar and cuffs out of which they 
came. He hastily climbed into the buggy 
between them. 

‘ ‘ It was very good of your grandfather 
to have you stop for me." 


THE PARTY 


99 


This remark made the spirits of the 
children go up with a bound. Joey was 
not acting at all as if he had shoes and 
stockings on, or as if he thought them too 
small to drive all the way alone. They 
drove happily along the shady river road 
listening to all that Joey had to say with 
great respect, and at times even forget- 
ting that he was not bare-footed. Joey 
almost forgot his hot red knitted stock- 
ings and stiff shoes himself in his glad 
anticipations — and anticipations must be 
pleasant indeed when they can make a 
boy who runs in his bare feet eight 
months out of twelve forget that he is 
shod. 

If there were two general favorites in 
the neighborhood, they were Miss Kate 
Fair and Joey Vale, and, as is not always 
the case with favorites, they liked each 
other just as well as every one 'else liked 
them. So when Miss Kate decided to 
give a party the first person she thought 
of was Joey, for, as she said, “ How 


loo THE FAR AH S LITTLE PEOPLE 


could any one do anything unless Joey 
was on hand to start it ? ^ * 

As old Charley turned into the avenue 
and his sorrel head was now and again 
visible through the trees, he was espied 
by the waiting group upon the wide porch, 
and those he brought were hailed by the 
gayly waved handkerchief of Miss Kate 
and the shouts of welcome from the 
children who clustered around her. 

“ We have just been waiting for you,'* 
said Miss Kate as she came down the 
steps to help Sister and Brother out. 
“ We were afraid you were not coming. 
Joey, please drive around to the stable 
and you will find Jim there to take the 
horse, and then hurry back, for we are 
waiting to go down to the willows." 

By the time Joey got back Brother and 
Sister had come to the conclusion that 
the Baltimore girls were not “ stuck up," 
and they and the Beldon children had 
said ‘‘Well!" to each other rather 
shyly, and Tommy Beldon had punched 



Brother in the back, so it looked as if 
they were going to have a very good time 
indeed. The willows bordered a little 
stream which wandered through the low- 
lands, and when they reached them, the 
sandy earth under them looked so cool, 
and the water sparkled so invitingly that 
soon a heap of loose shoes and stockings 
showed how strong the temptation to go in 
wading was, and splashing and laughter 
was heard up and down the stream. 

‘‘Joey, I should feel so much more 
comfortable if only you were in with 
them,*' Miss Kate was kind enough to 
say, as she saw him eying them envi- 
ously. “ Do take off your shoes and 
stockings and roll up your trousers and 
go in too." Joey needed no urging, and 
he was soon heading the line. 

As soon as she had seen her little 
guests busy, she began the laying of the 
dinner table under the trees, with the 
solid, comfortable meal which she knew 
they would soon be ready for. 



102 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

After dinner was eaten — just as had 
been hoped — Louey Fair^s pony was 
brought and each child had a ride on its 
broad, hot back, and then Sister and 
Brother, being the greatest strangers, 
were allowed to ride up to the house, 
where they were to go, to be out of the 
afternoon sun. Once there a grand romp 
began in the wide, old-fashioned halls 
and in the empty rooms, for, as in many 
another Virginia home, there were plenty 
of empty rooms in the Fair mansion. 

It was a wildly happy afternoon, what 
with playing “ hide and seek in closets, 
under stairways, and behind generous 
doors, races along the porch which en- 
circled the whole house, and “lost my 
glove yesterday, found it to-day, * * on the 
lawn. Indeed the fun grew so fast and 
furious that Brother lost his head and for 
the first time in his life did a really bad 
thing. When he was running around the 
ring to drop the glove, instead of drop- 
ping it in proper form behind Sissie Bel- 


THE PARTY 


103 

don, he seized her by the ankles and 
pulled her feet from under her, causing 
poor Sissie to fall flat upon her small pug 
nose. Of course he was very sorry as 
soon as he had done it and kissed Sissie’ s 
bumped nose, and tried to wipe the tears 
from her eyes with his own handkerchief, 
in which he had early in the day wrapped 
(and forgot) a crawfish to take home 
with him to be used in the lobster dam. 
But Sissie saw its little claws through her 
tears, and shrieked piteously. 

Then- later, one of the Beldon boys 
broke the string of coral beads around the 
neck of one of the Baltimore girls, and 
another boy dragged Sister so forcibly 
from a hiding-place that he nearly ripped 
the skirt from her waist, and she bristled 
with pins for the rest of the day. At 
one moment, after all these outrages, it 
looked as if the party was going to be a 
failure, for the girls all declared that, ex- 
cept Joey Vale, worse boys had never 
been allowed to attend a party, and that 





jam) 


h 



they would not play with them any more. 
At this all the boys pretended to cry in 
loud voices, and wiped their tears on 
their hats and elbows, and altogether 
were so witty, that in spite of themselves, 
the girls had to laugh, and harmony was 
so fully restored that each promised not 
to “tell on them** when they got home. 

After that Miss Kate gathered her 
guests about her on the grass and told 
them the most lovely stories, until Bobby 
Beldon, to his sister*s sickening shame, 
interrupted her to declare that he was just 
starving. At this Miss Kate marched 
them into the dining room to a real South- 
ern supper, to which, in spite of the 
blame heaped upon Bobby for his im- 
politeness, they all did fullest justice. 
When they came out from it, revived in 
body and spirit, they fell to playing * * Old 
Bloody Tom * * until the gathering shades 
of evening gave such reality to the play 
that it was too much for the timid ones, 
and Miss Kate had to call a halt and 



THE PARTY 


105 

make them quiet down. Then she and 
Joey began to sing very sweetly ; 

Come, come, come, come to the sunset tree, 
The day is past and gone. 

The woodman’s axe lies free. 

And the reaper’s work is done. 

And one little voice after another joined 
in, as the children gathered close to- 
gether. They were still singing simple, 
childish songs as the various carriages 
came to bear them to their homes. 

When Sister and Brother reached Mrs. 
Valets they found Randolph waiting to 
take Joey's place, and they were very 
willing to leave the rest of the journey to 
his care. 

Grandfather, mamma, and the aunties, 
were waiting outside the brightly lighted 
home to receive them. As they were 
tenderly lifted out of the buggy it seemed 
many a day since the morning, and they 
were quite awestruck to find that it was 
nine o'clock. 


io6 THE FARM^S LITTLE PEOPLE 

It was late when they woke next morn- 
ing and a soft rain was falling, so that 
play, anywhere but in the house, was 
quite out of the question. Sister was 
very weary from the previous day^s pleas- 
ure, and sat most of the morning with 
her beloved white kitten sleeping on her 
lap. Brother^ went away to the library, 
where grandfather found him ‘ ‘ printing ' * 
in very neat letters with a pencil. 

“What are you writing. Brother?** 
he asked. 

“ I am writing a fable, grandfather. I 
will read it to you. It is about a party, 
and it is named, * The Two Dogs.* ** 

‘ ‘ ‘ One day two dogs went to a farmer*s 
to visit some other dogs that were giving 
a tea-party. They were not invited to it. 
The dogs that were giving it made a row 
because they invited themselves. At the 
table, the host upset a glass of water he 
was so furious. Then he said, “Bad dogs, 
get you out. You shall never put your 
foot in this feasting yard again.** * ** 


THE PARTY 


107 


“ That is a very good fable, Brother," 
said grandfather. “ Give it to mamma 
and ask her to put it away for you, so that 
you can read it when you are a big boy. 
It has a very good moral." 

“Yes, I think any dog that has that 
read to him, won't go to a tea-party un- 
less he is invited. I'll get mamma to 
read it to Bingo." 






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